Once a waiter at a Kenchic fast‑food joint in Hurlingham, Nairobi, Musumba says he used to serve and share light‑hearted banter with politicians Babu Owino and Edwin Sifuna, who were among his regular customers.
Struggling to make ends meet after losing formal employment, Musumba made headlines on February 15, 2026, when he showed up at a major rally in Kitengela with a homemade placard appealing directly to the two leaders for support.
His sign read: Babu and Sifuna, I used to feed you kuku and chips at Kenchic Inn Hurling ham, please, it is your time to remember me. Don’t let me die working mjengo jobs.
The rally part of the opposition’s Linda Mwananchi Tour led by Sifuna and attended by thousands was itself the scene of intense events that day, including interference by police who fired tear gas to disperse the crowd.
The political gathering in Kitengela also saw significant backlash, with reports of at least one man killed and dozens injured amid the clashes between police and rallygoers.
Musumba’s unusual request quickly caught attention online, with many Kenyans praising the ingenuity and courage behind his appeal.
Social media reactions ranged from calls to support the struggling worker to admiration of his bold strategy for catching the eye of senior leaders. Some netizens noted that the placard had indeed drawn attention from the prominent politicians present.
His story underscores the broader economic and social challenges faced by ordinary Kenyans, particularly youths and informal workers, who often resort to public and symbolic gestures to seek assistance or opportunities in an unpredictable job market.
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